The 2026 workshop was held in Rome from October 28 to October 29
Agenda 2026
Session 1: Proficiency testing
The 2026 PTs on Trichinella
PT on artificial digestion to detect Trichinella larvae in meat samples and PT on the identification of Trichinella larvae at the species level by a molecular method. Irene Tartarelli (EURL-P; ISS, Italy)
The 2026 PTs on Echinococcus
PT on the detection of Echinococcus sp. worms in the intestinal mucosa of the definitive host. Azzurra Santoro (EURL-P; ISS, Italy)
PT on the molecular identification of Echinococcus at the species level. Federica Santolamazza (EURL-P; ISS, Italy)
The 2026 PTs on Anisakis
PT on the detection of Anisakidae L3 larvae in fish fillets. Antonio Di Grazia (EURL-P; ISS, Italy)
PT on the molecular identification of Anisakid nematodes at the species level. Francesco Celani (EURL-P; ISS, Italy)
The 2026 PT on serology of Trichinella
PT on the detection of anti-Trichinella IgG in animal serum samples. Alessandra Ludovisi (EURL-P; ISS, Italy)
Session 2: Updates from the EURL-Parasites
Twenty years of the EURL-Parasites in numbers (and updates from its “younger sibling” EURL-PH-HP). Adriano Casulli (EURL-P; ISS, Italy)
From foodborne parasite to intestinal hazard: Anisakis spp. extracellular vesicles impact on human colonic organoids. Ilaria Bellini (EURL-P; ISS, Italy)
Development of a multiplex TaqMan Real-Time PCR Assay for the detection and differentiation of Echinococcus granulosus s.l. and Echinococcus multilocularis. Azzurra Santoro (EURL-P; ISS, Italy)
Foodborne Parasites in a Global Context: From Burden Estimates to Risk Assessment. Lucy Robertson (NMBU, Norway)
Session 3: NRLs for Parasites activities
The Polish trichinellosis surveillance system. Weronika Korpysa-Dzirba (PIWET, Poland)
Dispersion on soil and lettuces of Echinococcus multilocularis and Toxoplasma gondii and efficiency of washing methods for lettuces of both parasites. Gérald Umhang (ANSES, France)
Monitoring of Trichinella spp. in red foxes, golden jackals, badgers and lynx in Slovenia. Laura Šimenc Kramar (VFUL, Slovenia)
Prevention of Trichinellosis in Serbia. Sasa Vasilev (INEP, Serbia)
MLST and MLVA for phylogenetics and cluster detection of Cryptosporidium parvum of human and animal origins. Kees van der Ark (RIVM, The Netherlands)
ANSES Opinion: The presence of Toxocara spp. parasites in wild boar meat. Isabelle Vallée (ANSES, France)
Coenurosis in a sheep: Reintroduction of the zoonotic tapeworm Taenia multiceps in the Netherlands? Marieke Opsteegh (RIVM, The Netherlands)
New insights into the genetic variability of European Trichinella spiralis. Ewa Bilska-Zajac (PIWET, Poland)
One year later: Questionnaire on the quality control Trichinella slaughterhouse labs. Denise Hoek-van Deursen (RIVM, The Netherlands)
Keynote talk
The ecological drivers behind the dynamics of the expansion of Echinococcus multilocularis in Europe. Alessandro Massolo (UNIPI, Italy)
